Our Attorneys

Robert C. Riter, Jr.

Bob Riter joined the firm in 1973. His legal efforts are focused principally upon litigation and trial work in all courts in this state, with a concentration in the defense practice. He also spends significant time appearing before state administrative bodies, and engaging in lobbying and legislative work.

Professional memberships include: State Board of South Dakota (President and Past Chair of Ethics Committee, Administrative Law Committee and Continuing Legal Education Committee); Defense Research Institute (DRI) (State Representative, 1994-1999 Member, Board of Directors, 1999-2003); South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association (Past President 1994-1995); Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates; American College of Trial Lawyers.

Bob has lectured and given presentations before classes at the University of South Dakota, School of Law, Continuing Education programs of the South Dakota State Bar, and Defense Research Institute (DRI) meetings and US Law Network meetings. He has also authored law review articles on the patient/physician privilege and civil justice reform.

Bob received his law degree from the University of South Dakota and holds a Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis on economics from the University of South Dakota School of Business.

Darla Rogers

Darla Rogers joined the firm in June of 2003. She has an extensive practice in insurance law, health law, cooperative and corporate law, telecommunications, electric and utility law, and has also actively lobbied in all of the above areas since 1984. In addition, Ms. Rogers' practice includes real estate transactions, estate planning, agricultural law and family law.

Ms. Rogers has practiced extensively in front of administrative agencies, and has done appellate work before the South Dakota Courts, and before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Rogers has been actively engaged in the deregulation of the telecommunications industry over the past several years at both the state and national levels, and has assisted clients in forming subsidiary corporations, joint ventures, and purchasing substantial utility properties. This included arranging financing, corporate restructuring, and securing R.U.S. and regulatory approval at both the state and federal levels.

Ms. Rogers has been a member of the South Dakota State Bar since 1979. She has served as a director of the Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of South Dakota, as a Bar Commissioner representing the Sixth Judicial Circuit for the State Bar of South Dakota Bar, and has been a member and director of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar since 1987. In 1993, she was elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and has served as State Chairperson for that organization.

Ms. Rogers served as president of the State Bar of South Dakota in 1998-1999. She is a member of the American Bar Association, and a section member of the General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Lawyer Section, and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association. She served a two-year term on the Advisory Council to the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence of the ABA, and also served several years as a trustee on the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Retirement System.

Jerry L. Wattier

Jerry L. Wattier was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on November 29, 1952. Jerry received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Dakota in 1975, and earned his Law Degree from the University of South Dakota Law School in 1985. Prior to joining the firm in 1986, Jerry served as a law clerk for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Jerry is a member of the State Bar of South Dakota. He is admitted in the State Court, Federal District Court for the State of South Dakota, and the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. Jerry’s practice includes business and corporate law, estate planning, probate and trust law, real property law, debtor/creditor law, and general civil practice.

Jerry is past president of the State Bar of South Dakota’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. Jerry is the City Attorney for the City of Blunt, Reliance, Midland, and Miller and is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Pierre. He is a member of the South Dakota Municipal Attorney’s Association. Jerry is a member and past president of the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Kiwanis Club, and he serves as a Trustee, and as the Veterans Service Chairperson for the Pierre Elks Lodge # 1953.

Margo Northrup

Margo Northrup joined the firm in 2004. She received a B.S. in English and Sociology from the University of South Dakota in 2000 and her Law Degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2003.

Margo is a member of the State Bar of South Dakota and the American Bar Association. She is admitted in the State Court and the Federal District Court for the State of South Dakota. Margo’s practice includes administrative law, telecommunications law, business transactions, family law, criminal defense, and general civil practice.

Among other activities Margo is a member of the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Rotary Club and serves on the Board of Directors for the Oahe Foundation. She has served on the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Defense Lawyers for a number of years and is currently the Past-President of the organization. Margo was a South Dakota Bar Commissioner from 2013-2015 and currently serves on the State Bar Strategic Planning Committee.

Lindsey Riter-Rapp

Lindsey Riter-Rapp joined the firm in January of 2008. Prior to that, she worked as an attorney at the Public Defender’s Office in Rapid City, South Dakota primarily doing criminal defense work. Lindsey also served as a law clerk for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

Lindsey received a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska in 1999 and her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of South Dakota in 2002.

Riter-Rapp is a member of the State Bar of South Dakota and the American Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the State Court and the Federal District Court for the State of South Dakota.

Her practice areas include litigation and trial work, including both civil and criminal defense, administrative law, family law, lobbying and legislative work. Lindsey has also served as the City Attorney for the City of Pierre since 2008.

Lindsey is serving her third term on the Board of Directors for Capital Area Counseling Services and also serves as the President of the Pierre Education Foundation.

In her free time, Lindsey enjoys cooking, traveling and being outdoors with her husband, Jon, and their three children, Guy, George and Alice.

Kody Kyriss

Kody R. Kyriss is originally from Lesterville, South Dakota and graduated from Menno Public School in 2010. Kody received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English from Northern State University in 2014 in which he graduated summa cum laude in honoribus. During his time at Northern State University, he served as President of the student government. Prior to attending the University of South Dakota School of Law in the Fall of 2014, Kody worked in Senator John Thune’s Aberdeen and Washington D.C. congressional offices.

While attending the University of South Dakota School of Law, Kody was a member of the USD Law Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Board as well as the USD Law Trial Team. He also had the privilege of participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA) group where he was able to assist the lower-income with their taxes.

In his free time, Kody loves to fish, try new food, watch movies, and spend time with his friends, family, and wife, Courtney. Kody’s practice includes business transactions, administrative law, criminal defense, family law and general practice.

Jason Rumpca

Jason Rumpca joined the firm in 2018. Prior to that, he worked as an attorney in Beresford, South Dakota in a general practice with an emphasis in criminal law. Jason received his undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University in 2005 and his Law Degree from the University of South Dakota in 2008.

Jason is a member of the State Bar of South Dakota. He is admitted in the State Court and the Federal District Court for the State of South Dakota. Jason’s practice areas include criminal defense, personal injury, family law and general civil practice.

Jason is originally from Pierre and has returned to the community with his wife, Jessica, and daughter Kinley. In his free time, Jason enjoys hunting, fishing, traveling and spending time outdoors.